San Antonio noise rules: quiet hours, decibel limits and how to complain

At a glance

Quiet hours: Nighttime is 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday
Who to call: SAPD non-emergency: 210-207-7273. Code Enforcement: 311.
The law: San Antonio City Code §§ 21-51 to 21-58. Read the code

Checked against official sources on 2026-10-16.

San Antonio’s noise rules are in Article III of Chapter 21 of the City Code. Division 1 sets the general rules (§§ 21-51 to 21-61). The article combines a list of banned noises with decibel limits by zoning district.

Daytime and nighttime

Section 21-51 defines two periods:

Daytime/evening: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Nighttime: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday

So San Antonio gives Friday and Saturday nights an extra hour.

What counts as a noise nuisance

Section 21-51 defines a “noise nuisance” as any loud, irritating, vexing or disturbing sound from a nearby property under separate ownership that causes injury, discomfort or distress to a person “of reasonable nervous sensibilities,” or any sound over the decibel limits in § 21-52.

Section 21-52(a) lists acts that count when done loudly or long enough to disturb such a person. For neighbors, the main ones are:

Playing a radio, TV, instrument, speaker or similar device (§ 21-52(a)(1))
Keeping an animal or bird that makes “frequent or long, continued noise” (§ 21-52(a)(3))
Shouting or using a loudspeaker, horn or similar device (§ 21-52(a)(7))

Decibel limits

Section 21-52(a) sets limits measured from property under separate ownership:

Residential zoned property: 63 decibels (§ 21-52(a)(9))
Business zoned property: 70 decibels (§ 21-52(a)(10))
Industrial zoned property: 72 decibels (§ 21-52(a)(11))
Entertainment zoned property: 85 decibels using the Leq method (§ 21-52(a)(12))

Section 21-52(b) applies corrections to the business, industrial and entertainment limits, including subtracting 7 dB when the noise happens at night. The text applies those corrections to subsections (a)(10) through (12), so the 63-decibel residential limit is the same day and night.

Section 21-53 separately bans vibration that can be felt without instruments on adjoining property.

Barking dogs

Beyond § 21-52(a)(3), § 21-57(c) lets the director impound animals after noise violations on two occasions, following an administrative hearing, if they are found to be a continuing noise nuisance.

Construction hours

Under § 21-52(a)(6), construction, demolition, alteration and repair work, and the tools used for it, are limited to:

7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

Work is not allowed on the legal holidays listed in § 21-51 (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas). Construction noise may not exceed 80 dBA at the property line at any time. The building official can grant a waiver for off-hours work, and if the site is within 300 feet of an occupied home, neighbors must get written notice at least 72 hours ahead.

Car stereos

Under § 21-54, a vehicle sound system is a violation if it can be heard 30 feet or more away, or if people outside the vehicle can feel the vibration.

Who to contact

The San Antonio Police Department’s non-emergency number is 210-207-SAPD (210-207-7273). Call 911 for emergencies. Code Enforcement takes complaints through 311 or 210-207-6000, or online.

Penalties

A violation is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of $100 to $500, and no proof of intent is needed (§ 21-58(a)). If the violation was intentional, knowing or reckless, the fine is $100 to $2,000, with higher minimums for repeat convictions (§ 21-58(b)). Each day is a separate offense.

At a private home, any adult resident present can be held responsible (§ 21-59). Under § 21-57, a person or address with violations on three separate days within 12 months can be declared a habitual noise nuisance after a hearing, and sound equipment can then be seized.

Texas law

Texas Penal Code § 42.01(a)(5) makes unreasonable noise in a public place, or in or near a private residence the person has no right to occupy, a Class C misdemeanor. Noise over 85 decibels is presumed unreasonable after a magistrate or peace officer has given notice that it is a public nuisance (§ 42.01(c)(2)).

Keeping a record

San Antonio’s habitual-violator rules count separate days within a year, so dates matter. The Noisy Neighbor iPhone app keeps a dated log of each incident with estimated levels and low-frequency vibration, and it makes PDF reports and complaint letters for a landlord or HOA. The readings are estimates from your phone, not the calibrated meter § 21-56 requires for enforcement.

Sources

Last checked 2026-10-16. Laws change; check the official code before acting. Not legal advice.